Have you heard the term reactive barking before? Are you wondering what it means and whether or not this is something that your dog does? Then we have some answers for you.
Just based on the fact that being reactive means that a person or animal is responding to something in their immediate vicinity, it likely makes perfect sense that reactive barking would be our dog's reaction to some form of stimulus.
However, that feels very simplistic and we wanted to learn more from an expert in the field of animal health and behavior. Luckily for us, we were able to ask Erin Askeland from Camp Bow Wow to explain not only what precisely reactive barking is, but also how we can potentially stop it.
An expert answers our questions about reactive barking
Our first question was very basic, as we wanted an expert's definition of what reactive barking was. This meant that we specifically asked, what is reactive barking?
According to Erin Askeland, "Reactive barking in dogs is a response to some type of external stimuli and a way for them to communicate about something they've found exciting, frightening, or interesting! This type of barking is often a response to things like other dogs, strangers, or new environments that trigger an emotional reaction. It can stem from anxiety, frustration, overexcitement, fear, or uncertainty. Understanding what sets your pup off is the first step in addressing this type of vocalization. It should also be noted that reactive barking is commonly seen with other behavior such as lunging, jumping up, pulling on a leash, growling, or whining."
Honestly, this makes perfect sense and considering the definition of reactive, is actually what we expected. So how can we stop reactive barking? Considering this was our second question revolving around this behavior this is how our expert answered the question:
"Addressing reactive barking involves a combination of patience, understanding, and positive training. Start by identifying the triggers: this allows you to minimize your dog’s exposure to triggers, which is especially important while you’re teaching alternative behaviors. Then you can practice gradually exposing them to the stimulus at a safe distance while rewarding them when they are not barking, lunging, etc. (the goal is to be far enough away that a dog can see the stimulus but not bark). Teaching alternative behaviors such as hand-targeting to help move away and focus on your or a fun behavior like a spin can help them refocus and learn a new response to the trigger instead of barking. You do not want to force a dog into a situation that makes them uncomfortable and you don’t want to yell, scold, or punish a dog for their reaction. This doesn’t teach a dog what to do instead of bark and it could damage your relationship with your dog. Consulting a professional trainer or behaviorist can offer tailored strategies, ensuring you can work on your pup’s reactivity to make it easier for you to manage."
We appreciate the fact that we can train our dogs to be potentially less reactive. And we understand that it takes time, patience and the ability to train our pups with positive reinforcement. Hopefully, this also helps you if you happen to have a more reactive dog, and especially one who tends to bark a bit more.